The self-ruled island's premier, Lin Chuan, ordered government agencies to form a team to investigate the blast, the Central News Agency said.

"It looks like someone did it on purpose," Lin told journalists. "We will make our best efforts to investigate this case. Please rest assured that we will provide effective and efficient security for all passengers."

Reports cited witnesses as saying they heard a loud explosion before the train carriage burst into flames.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.